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Nat felt the warmth of the flames lick against her face, creating a sharp contrast from the cool night air. She sipped her beer, tuning out whatever Kevyn was currently ranting about. Her attention was directed to more important areas. Across the bonfire was Akilah, surrounded by her friends, laughing as Melissa clumsily shotgunned her beer. All Nat wanted was to be there, with her. Even if they couldn’t touch, just being in her space would be enough.
“Yo, Nat? Can you hear me?” Kevyn snapped his fingers in front of her face.
“Yeah Kev, what’s up?” She snapped back to reality, her gaze drifting to Kevyn’s face just as he rolled his eyes.
“Jeez, are you high or something? I said, you guys are friends, right?” He asked, nodding his head across the lawn.
“Friends with who?” Nat quirked her brow, “and no, I’m not high. Fuck you.”
“Well, maybe we should get high then,” He laughed and Nat scoffed as she lifted the cup to her mouth once again. She hadn’t touched anything other than weed for the past month. And even so, she’d barely smoked it.
“Anyways, I’m talking about you and Akilah. I’ve seen you two talk once in a while, and she’s on the Yellowjackets, right?” Kevyn said as he directed his gaze back in the direction of Akilah and her friends.
Fuck.
Nat swallowed, “Why do you ask?” Her tongue felt like lead in her mouth.
She really shouldn’t be this worried. Sure, Kevyn had been her closest friend for the past 4 years, but there was no way he could’ve noticed. They were too careful.
“Well she’s really hot, and I think you should totally set me up,” His pleading eyes met hers.
Nat raised her eyebrow, pulling a face. At least he wasn’t going to question her about all the totally obvious staring (on her part at least), the whispers when no one was looking, or why she’d always seem to use the bathroom at the same time as Nat during 4th period biology.
Kevyn sighed, “Before you say no, just think about all the times I’ve hooked us up with free weed and pills!” He waved his hands drunkenly, drink sloshing around his cup.
Nat shifted on her feet nervously. Of course Kevyn had to have a crush on her girlfriend. Not that she could blame him of course, Akilah was objectively the hottest girl in Wiskayok.
“Fine,” Nat sighed and Kevyn’s face lit up, “but you can go talk to her yourself.” She smirked after seeing the look on Kevyn’s face.
If anyone was aware about how bad his game was, it was Kevyn himself. She still remembered the time he’d tried to ask out Mari and she splashed her entire drink on him before cursing him out in front of the entire school.
“Fuck, alright. But I assume you’re coming too for moral support?” He smirked, already dragging her around the bonfire to Akilah and her friends.
“Do I even have a choice?” Nat questioned, trying, and failing to conceal the eager expression on her face. The entire party Nat had been trying to think of an excuse, but who thought it’d actually come in the form of her best friend trying using her as a wingman to set him up with her secret girlfriend.
Akilah saw Nat first, a smile lighting up her face instantly. “Hey Nat, what’s up?” She asked, inching closer, drink in hand as she gave Nat a side hug.
Part of Nat felt so pathetic for blushing and feeling that flip in her stomach whenever Akilah so much as looked at her. Even something so small and friendly as a side hug had Nat practically on her knees for the other girl.
“Uh hey Akilah,” Kevyn stood awkwardly to the side, raising a hand in greeting and smiling nervously.
“Hi Kevyn!” Akilah smiled at him, a little too friendly for Nat’s liking. God, why did this secret girlfriend thing have to be so hard?
Mari stumbled forward, clearly plastered and grabbing on Akilah’s shoulder for support.
“We don’t have any drugs if that’s what you’re looking for.” She slurred. Nat shifted uncomfortably under her scrutinizing, yet still unfocused gaze.
“Oh fuck off Ibarra.” Nat spat, scowling at Mari. Kevyn smirked then quickly covered his face when Mari sharply turned, staring at him with a look that could kill.
Akilah sighed and glared at both of them, her eyes pleading for Nat to stop as Mari clearly wasn’t going to back off. Nat immediately felt a wave of guilt wash over her.
Nat cleared her throat, “So, uhm, how are you guys doing tonight?” She said awkwardly, stepping back to hide her cringing face in her beer cup.
Mari opened her mouth to speak, probably to mock her, but stopped when Akilah pressed a hand to her arm. Nat’s eyes followed where her hand met Mari, glancing up only to find Akilah already watching.
Kevyn shifted nervously, “You look like you need a refill, I was just about to head inside if you wanna come with?” He looked up hopefully, eyes wide. Nat would give anything just to get through this painful interaction.
A look of understanding fell on Akilah’s face. She smiled sympathetically, “That’d be great, but Jackie was actually just over here looking for Nat…something about varsity team bonding, and I was gonna show her where the rest of the team was.” She shifted closer to Nat, grabbing her arm lightly. Her skin tingled where Akilah’s fingers oh so lightly grazed.
Nat looked up, biting her lip so hard she thought she’d drew blood just to hold back a smile, “Ugh fuck, is she serious?” She scoffed, feigning annoyance, and rolling her eyes.
Kevyn nodded, “Oh ok…well, maybe when you get back?” He asked hopefully, “I’ll still be here.”
Mari snorted, “Jesus, desperate much?”
“Oh like you can talk, Mari?” He shot back, gaze drifting back to his cup as he seemed to deflate a little.
Part of Nat felt bad, but maybe he’d stop getting rejected so much if he didn’t go for girls way out of his league, or you know, girls who were already in a relationship.
Akilah smiled apologetically, “I don’t know Kevyn, I might be gone for a bit.”
Nat once again felt herself bute back a smile.
“Well we better leave now or Jackie’s gonna be pissed.” Nat tried not to look too excited as her and Akilah headed towards Lottie’s mansion, not even bothering to look back.
“Aww Kev looks like it’s just the two of us now!” Nat could hear Mari quip as Kevyn let out a very audible groan.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The music was even louder inside, people were shouting, dancing, and it smelled like the inside of a keg. Once they’d stepped into Lottie’s huge mansion Akilah grabbed her wrist and practically dragged Nat to the safest bathroom -not that she was putting up any resistance, which was all the way at the end of a dark hallway.
As soon as the door slammed shut Nat was pressed up against the door. Akilah using one hand to hold onto her shoulder and one to lock the door before she wrapped them both around Nat’s neck.
Almost immediately Nat kissed her, hands falling to her waist. It was slow at first, like they were relearning every part of eachother, savoring the moment as if they didn’t know when they’d have another like this. Then, it started to become more deep, possessive. Akilah’s hands moved up to Nat’s face, holding it in her hands.
Nat began moving her hands down, further every second. Suddenly, Akilah grabbed Nat’s wrist and broke the kiss.
“Uh-uh, I’m still mad at you.” Akilah shook her head, holding back a smile when Nat’s eye brows shot up, shock etched into her features.
“Why? Is it because of Mari?” Nat asked, still holding Akilah against her, “I only said that because she was being an asshole!”
“I know, but it’s not like I’m not mad at her either. I’ve talked to her about this…” she looked up at the slightly taller girl, biting her lip like she usually did whenever she was worried.
“You’ve talked to her about me?” Nat blushed in spite of herself.
Akilah let out a giggle, “Of course I have, and I told her to lay off you.”
“Well thanks,” Nat said with a smile as she drew her closer, leaning in for a kiss. She knew she could handle herself, but that was why she loved Akilah. She was always looking out for anyone close to her.
Akilah moved back slightly, stopping her with a hand on her chest and a shake of her head, “Promise me you won’t cause any trouble with her. I want my best friend and my girlfriend to get along.” She looked up at Nat with eyes she just couldn’t say no to.
Nat sighed, “Fine, and I’m not just saying that because I really want to kiss you- I’ll actually try.”
Akilah smiled, triumphant, “You’re the best,” she leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to her lips before pulling back once more, “and I’m holding you to that, by the way.”
Nat laughed, “You won’t have to worry,” then she closed the gap, reigniting the spark from the beginning of the night, taking out her weeks of frustration about their little secret onto Akilah’s mouth in this moment.
The shorter girl let out a gasp, quickly swallowed up by Nat’s tongue. Nat started moving forward, backing Akilah up until she bumped into the sink. She continued to kiss the other girl as she lifted her up onto the counter, feeling a fluttering in her stomach as Akilah wrapped her legs around Nat, drawing her impossibly closer.
Akilah grasped desperately at Nat’s band shirt as the kiss deepened, tongue sliding into her mouth. She bunched up the fabric and pulled it up slightly. Nat drew back and pulled her shirt off, revealing that red bra Akilah loved underneath.
Nat focused her attention onto Akilah’s neck, hands pawing at her thighs, and sucking a hickey into her neck.
“Fuck,” Akilah gasped, as Nat nipped at the tender spot just to smooth it over with her tongue.
“God, you don’t know how long I’ve been waiting for this.” Nat breathed, hands moving up the bottom of Akilah’s shirt, pulling it up around her torso.
“I think I do,” Akilah whispered, then moved a hand up to Nat’s boobs, squeezing lightly, as if to prove a point.
Just before Nat could pull Akilah’s shirt over her head there was a sharp knock at the door. Both girls jumped, heads whipping to the source of the sound.
Nat’s heart dropped to her feet, a nervous feeling strong enough to make her sick pooled in her stomach. Akilah gripped her arms, wide eyes turning to her.
“Uh, just waiting for the bathroom, every other one had people hooking up so just hurry please!” Van yelled from the other side of the door.
Nat breathed a sigh of relief. Van had been the only other person to know about their relationship, she had even sworn her to secrecy from Tai.
“Fuck, we’re alright,” Nat said quietly, already bending down to grab her shirt from the floor.
Akilah rolled her eyes in annoyance, “That’s great, but maybe we should stop doing this at parties,” she hopped down from the counter, pulling her down shirt down and inspecting her makeup.
“Yea, it’s me Van, give me a sec!” Nat shouted back when another round of knocks started to begin. Once Akilah looked like she was finished Nat went for the door handle.
“Wait!” Akilah said, and Nat turned back, “your hair.” She reached up and smoothed down the parts where she’d only been previously running her fingers through.
“Thanks,” Nat smiled, feeling herself blush again as she kissed her chastely once more before opening the door, letting Akilah slip out first before she followed.
“It’s not what you think, Van,” Nat said, as soon as she saw the other girl’s expression.
“Then tell me what I should be thinking,” Van raised an eyebrow at her and Akilah, who was now intensely studying the ground. Obviously a bit embarrassed at having been caught by an older girl.
“We were just talking,” Nat smirked, and slyly glanced over at her girlfriend, who, with a barely contained smile herself, hit her arm playfully.
“You two are so lucky I’m the one who was knocking, and speaking of, move so I can use the bathroom!” Van pushed past the two girls, pausing to give them each a curious look before closing the door.
“Funny,” Nat said as the walked back through the chaos, “because her and Tai are the same way,”
“Well,” Akilah said as they stepped out onto the lawn, the familiar night air, a welcome sensation, “I don’t recall seeing them hook up at a huge party,”
“Well who says they haven’t? I don’t think I’ve told you about that time back in junior year,” Nat nudged Akilah’s shoulder. As they neared the bonfire she could see a now totally shitfaced Kevyn and Melissa chugged beers, and being egged on by an equally shitfaced Mari.
“You know, I was thinking you could come over tomorrow,” Akilah said, giving her girlfriend a teasing grin, “we could finished what we started.” She whispered in Nat’s ear before jogging off suddenly to pull the beer away from Melissa, to Mari’s disappointment.
Once again, leaving Nat absolutely shocked as to how she’d gotten so lucky with her girlfriend.